Miniature rose plant named ‘Meimiros’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of rose plant of the Miniature Class is provided which abundantly forms on a nearly continuous basis attractive very double bright Coral Salmon Pink blossoms that well retain their coloration upon maturity. The growth habit is spreading-upright bushy. Very dense dark green semi-glossy foliage is formed that contrasts nicely with the blossom coloration. Plants of the new variety develop well following the rooting of cuttings. The new variety is well suited for pot forcing under greenhouse growing conditions to form a distinctive gift plant.

Botanical/commercial classification: Rosa hybrida/Miniature Rose Plant.

Varietal denomination: cv. ‘Meimiros’.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new variety of Rosa hybrida Miniature rose plant was created by artificial pollination wherein two parents were crossed which previously had been studied in the hope that they would contribute the desired characteristics. The female parent (i.e., the seed parent) of the new variety was the product of the cross of the ‘Meichanso’ variety (non-patented in the United States) and the ‘Meishasen’ variety (non-patented in the United States). The ‘Meichanso’ variety sometimes is known as the ‘Parador’ variety. The male parent (i.e., the pollen parent) was the ‘Meifinaro’ variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,180). The ‘Meifinaro’ variety has been marketed under the AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE trademark. The parentage of the new variety can be summarized as follows: (‘Meichanso’×‘Meishasen’)×‘Meifinaro’.

The seeds resulting from the above pollination were sown and small plants were obtained which were physically and biologically different from each other. Selective study resulted in the identification of a single plant of the new variety.

It was found that the new variety of Miniature rose plant of the present invention possesses the following combination of characteristics:

-   -   (a) exhibits a spreading-upright bushy growth habit,     -   (b) forms in abundance on a nearly continuous basis attractive         very double bright Coral Salmon Pink blossoms that well retain         their coloration upon maturity,     -   (c) forms very dense dark green semi-glossy foliage,     -   (d) develops well following the rooting of cuttings, and     -   (e) is well suited for pot forcing under greenhouse growing         conditions.

The new variety well meets the needs of the horticultural industry. It is particularly well suited for pot forcing under greenhouse growing conditions to form a distinctive gift plant.

The new variety can be readily distinguished from its parental varieties. More specifically, the ‘Meichanso’ variety forms significantly larger blossoms that are Geranium Red in coloration, and the ‘Meifinaro’ variety forms smaller blossoms that initially are Neyron Pink in coloration and fade to nearly white at the time of petal drop. The new variety additionally can be distinguished from other previously known Miniature rose varieties in view of its distinctive blossom coloration combined with the display of an usually large number of petals.

The new variety has been found to undergo asexual propagation at West Grove, Pa. by a number of routes, including budding, grafting, and the use of cuttings. Asexual propagation by the above-mentioned methods as performed in Pennsylvania has shown that the characteristics of the new variety are strictly transmissible from one generation to another. Good plant development is displayed regardless of the mode of asexual propagation.

The new variety has been named the ‘Meimiros’ variety.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph shows as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same, in a color illustration of this character, a typical specimen of the new variety. The rose plant of the new variety was three years of age and was photographed during October 2003 while growing on their own roots in a greenhouse at West Grove, Pa.

FIG. 1—illustrates a specimen of a typical flower cluster with accompanying foliage.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of the colors is that of The Royal Horticultural Society (R.H.S. Colour Chart). The description is based on the observation of three year-old specimens of the new variety which were observed during October 2003 while growing on their own roots in greenhouses at West Grove, Pa.

-   Class: Miniature. -   Plant:     -   -   Height.—Approximately 60 to 65 cm on average at the end of             the growing season.         -   Width.—Approximately 65 to 70 cm on average at the end of             the growing season.         -   Habit.—Spreading-upright bushy. -   Branches:     -   -   Color.—Young stems: glabrous and near Green Group 137C.             Adult wood: glabrous and near Green Group 137C.         -   Thorns.—Immature thorns: possess an elliptical base, taper             to a sharp point at the apex, measure approximately 5 mm in             length and approximately 2 mm in width at the base, and are             Yellow-Green Group 153A in coloration. Mature thorns:             possess an elliptical base, taper to a sharp point at the             apex, measure approximately 6 mm in length and approximately             3 mm in width at the base, and are Yellow-Green Group 153A             in coloration. -   Leaves:     -   -   Petioles.—Upper surface: bear scattered hairs and stiff             glandular hairs, and near Green Group 143A in coloration.             Under surface: typically bear a few minute to small minor             prickles and occasional stiff glandular hairs, and near             Green Group 143A in coloration.         -   Leaflets.—Number: 3, 5 (most often), and 7. Shape: typically             broadly elliptical to elliptical to ovate to occasionally             narrowly ovate. Apex: acute to broadly acute to abruptly             acuminate. Base: broadly rounded to broadly cuneate to             cuneate. Texture: substantially glabrous on the upper             surface and glabrous on the lower surface, and somewhat             papery. Margin: serrulate. General appearance: very dense,             dark green, and semi-glossy. Leaf size: varies widely within             and between leaves of varying leaflet numbers with the             overall leaf lengths commonly being approximately 6 to 10.5             cm and the overall leaf widths commonly being approximately             5 to 7.5 cm. For a three-leaflet leaf a typical length             commonly is approximately 6 to 8 cm and a typical width             commonly is approximately 5 to 7 cm. For a five-leaflet leaf             a typical length commonly is approximately 7.5 to 10.5 cm             and a typical width commonly is approximately 5.5 to 7.5 cm.             For a seven-leaflet leaf a typical length commonly is             approximately 8 to 10 cm and a typical width commonly is             approximately 5.5 to 7.5 cm. Color (adult foliage): Upper             surface: near Green Group 139A. Under surface: near             Greyed-Green Group 191A. Petiole: approximately 12 mm in             length and approximately 3 mm in diameter. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Number of flowers.—Commonly approximately 1 to 4 per stem.         -   Peduncle.—Near Green Group 143C in coloration, occasionally             with simple trichomes, the length commonly is approximately             3.6 to 5 cm, and the diameter commonly is approximately 1.9             mm.         -   Sepals.—Five in number, lanceolate, possess an apex that is             acutus, approximately 20 mm in length, approximately 6 mm in             width at the widest point, Yellow-Green Group 144A in             coloration on both surfaces, and with some foliaceous             extensions.         -   Buds.—Shape: ovoid, approximately 22 mm in length,             approximately 8 mm in diameter, and Yellow-Green Group 144A             in coloration.         -   Flower.—Form: very double, and flat cup-shaped. Diameter:             approximately 4 to 5 cm on average when fully open. Color             when blooming and nearly fully open: Upper surface: near Red             Group 48D and Red Group 49A and lightening towards and             through Red Group 49B and 49C. Under surface: near Red Group             49A and lightening towards and through Red Group 49B and             49C, and with some areas of near Red Group 48D at upper             petal areas. Color at full maturity: Upper surface:             typically near Red Group 55B and lightening smoothly and             continuously through Red Group 55C and 55D with a small area             of near to White Group 155B and 155C near the base and             towards the center as well as a small amount of near             Green-White Group 157A at the petal base. Under surface:             typically near Red Group 55B and lightening smoothly and             continuously through Red Group 55C and 55D, and Red Group             56A and 56B. Stability of coloration: very good with             coloration commonly being well maintained upon full             maturity. Petal configuration: larger broad petals are found             in the outside rows with the innermost petals commonly being             narrower and distinctly folded over and crinkled. Petal             number: ranges widely from approximately 65 to 110 under             typical growing conditions. Petal texture: glabrous,             membranaceous, relatively thin, and semi-translucent. Petal             arrangement: rosulate. Petal shape: broadly obovate to             obovate to narrowly obovate. Petal margin: entire though             tends to be revolute and typically more towards the tip             especially as the flower ages. Petal apex: typically             abruptly acuminate and occasionally broadly rounded. Petal             base: very broadly cuneate to narrowly cuneate. Petal size:             on the outside commonly approximately 22 to 27 mm (average             approximately 24 mm) in length and approximately 20 to 30 mm             (average approximately 23 mm) in width, and on the inside             commonly approximately 15 to 23 mm (average approximately             20 mm) in length and approximately 9 to 19 mm (average             approximately 15 mm) in width. Petaloids: commonly             approximately 8 to 15 per flower, commonly irregular in             shape, approximately 8 mm×4 mm in size, and near White Group             155D with edges of Red Group 52D in coloration. Fragrance:             none. Stamen number: commonly approximately 48 to 60.             Filaments: commonly approximately 5 mm in length, and near             Yellow-Orange Group 18A in coloration. Anthers:             Yellow-Orange Group 22A in coloration. Pollen: present in an             abundant quantity and near Yellow-Orange Group 23A in             coloration. Pistil number: approximately 96 on average.             Styles: commonly approximately 4 mm in length, and near             White Group 155D at the base and changing to near Red Group             46A near the stigma. Stigma: Yellow-Orange Group 23A in             coloration. Lasting quality: is influenced by environmental             conditions with blooms commonly lasting approximately 7 days             on the plant, and approximately 5 days when cut and placed             in a vase. -   Development:     -   -   Vegetation.—Vigorous.         -   Blooming.—Very abundant and nearly continuous under             greenhouse growing conditions.         -   Aptitude to bear fruit.—None observed. 

1. A new and distinct variety of Miniature rose plant characterized by the following combination of characteristics: (a) exhibits a spreading-upright bushy growth habit, (b) forms in abundance on a nearly continuous basis attractive very double bright Coral Salmon Pink blossoms that well retain their coloration upon maturity, (c) forms very dense dark green semi-glossy foliage, (d) develops well following the rooting of cuttings, and (e) is well suited for pot forcing under greenhouse growing conditions; substantially as herein shown and described. 